Brussels, 30/08/2007 (Agence Europe) - Before taking part in the customary informal Gymnich meeting of foreign affairs ministers next week in Portugal, the EU High Representative for CFSP resumed his activities with a visit to the Middle East where he is expected to arrive on Saturday night. The first two days will take Solana to Israel and the Palestinian territories. Meetings are planned with the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, the prime minister Salam Fayad, his Israeli counterpart Ehud Olmert, the foreign affairs minister Tzipi Livni, Israeli defence minister Ehud Barak and vice prime minister Haim Ramon. Solana may also meet the heads of the European missions EUBAM, Pietro Pistolese and EU-COPSS, Colin Smith. Management of the Rafah terminal (EUBAM) has been frozen since Hamas took over the Gaza Strip but the police mission (EU-COPPS) is active again.
The High Representative may then go to other capitals in the region on Tuesday and Wednesday but the follow up to the programme still needed confirming as we went to press. This visit is part of the relaunch of the peace process and preparation for the next Quartet meeting on 23 September in New York, as well as the conference the US intends organising in November. (oj)